Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-11
TITS FLOOD-TIDE NOW
so A DAxvfLLH MAN
SPEARS OF RIcHMoNDs PROSPECTS.
fncoursging Facts and Figures Relating
TO the City's Business for the
Month Of August.

OF RICHMOND during the post month,
and also to find out the prospect of the
fall trade. He asked: Is the shipment
OF freight over The line Of the Rich
mond and Danville railroad by jobbers
as large as it was last fall?
Yes, sir, was the emphatic reply.
Our August report has not yet been
made mp, and, without knowing the
exact figures, think it would be safe
to say that iobbers shipped during the
month OF August, 1887, about 25 per
cent. more goods than they did for
August, 1886. The reason can be ac-
counted for in this way: Last year the
cotton crop was late, and there was no
movement until about September 10th.
Besides this the crop was reported
short, which made country merchants
slow to buy, and then they bought only
in small quantities. This year the cot
ton began TO move about the LIST of
September, and as the summer months
were favorable for growing every indi-
cation was for a large crop. This
stimulated the country merchants and
tanners. and from the fact that they
could get cotton 20 market earlier con
fidence was inspired, and they began
their purchases earlier.
FREIGHT SHIPMENTS.
Tell me something about freight
shipped by Richmond parties and the
quantity was asked.
The railroad officer answered During
the month of August there was shipped
10y the Richmond jobbers and manutac-
turers about one million pounds of
freight for every working day in the
month.
This business was distributed through
North and South Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, and florida. The Richmond
merchants as yet have not extended
their trade beyond the Georgia line
but the manufacturers are going into
Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and
Texas, and We find few shipping as
far as California. Richmond has right
10 feel encouraged as ii has an advan-
tnge over eastern cities by diff'erential
rates, and as Richmond iobbcrs aud
manufacturers can sell rs low as Bati
more and New York people, the differ
cnce in freight will induce buyers to
come here instead of going further
North. As it is, Richmond does more
business 10y % per cent. than Boston,
Providence, New York, Philadelphia,
and Baltimore all combined to territory
reached by the Richmond and Danville |
railroad. 1his of itself is sufficient |
index tO show you that Richmond bust |
ness IS rapidly increasing.
THE WEST POINT CONNECTIONS.
The Richmond and Danville in form |
ing the West Point connection made |
for itself trunk line, thereby going |
into the market for all classes of busi-
ness offered and for all points North, |
South, East, and West. Since West |
Point has been made IA port of forward
Ing the general business of the Rich
mond and Danyille railroad has gradu
ally and greatly increased, and the road
from time to time been forced to in
crease its rolling-stock until now it has
an equipment Of 1923 frcight-cars.
These cars belong TO what was formerly
the Richmond and Danville railroad
between Richmond and Charlotte. la
the Richmond and Danvlle system,
however, they have an equipment Of
about 1900 cars. Even with this
amount OF rolllng-stock they are pushed
to their utmost capacity 10 DO the i'm
mense amount OF business now Offering,
and are at present building several hun
drtd moreca at one Of our large manu-
featuring establishments here.
AS a matter Of interest 1t might he
mentioned here that before the West
Point connection was made the amount !
OF wages paid at the Manchester shops
was only about 5000 month II has
nov increased to $3.50 q per month.
or $24O, 600 year more money, which
is scattered broadcast in this cOmmu-
nifty among retail dealers, and in this
shape the entire community is bene-
flied.
NORFOLK AND wEgTERN.
Row about taking freight from the
Norfolk aid Western?
Prior to the establishment of the
port of West Point the bulk of the
through business handled 10y the Rich
moAd and Hanyille railroad came ci0
Norfolk and Burkevillc, and by this
mtSns Norfolk was brought promi-
ncntly before the people living along
the llnc of the Richmond and Danyllle
III llroad aud the Norfolk market sold
mort % The heavy gfCcers reached by
the Richmond and Danyille railroad in
North and South Carolina. At that
time Norfolk had as good rates to
North Carolina territory as Richmond,
and the advantage which Norfolk had
over Richmond from terminal facilities
enabled the Norfolk merchant to UNI
doTsell The Richmond merchant.
How was The competition broken up
which gave Richmond the advantage
over Norfolk TO your territory
The managers OF the Richmond and |
Danville railroad realized that the Nor
folk and Western (tbon the Atlantic,
Mississippi and OHIO railrOad) were
only using them as feeder" giving !
to them such business as they could
not route Uid Bristol and take their
long haul. As this was both q detri-
ment to the Richmond and Danvillc |
railroad as II was TO Richmond-the
most important trade centre on its
hne-,hey gave notice 10 the Atlantic,
Mississippi and Ohio railroad that they
would not receive any eastern business
from them at BurkeyIlle. They estab-
hshed West Point and formed alliances
with steamer lines, which enabled them
10 be independent Of any other line.
Added to this, they made rates from
Norfolk higher than from Richmond
and gave Richmond the benefit of its
geographical position. These things
being done, together with the push and i
energy OF our merchants, il was not |
long before the business was turned 10
Richmond and Richmond's prosperity
was assured, as it has since proved.
THE FUTURE.
What do you think of the future OF
Richmond
Richmond will continue 10 grow and
will eventually be one Of the largest
trade centues in this country il BURNER
chants and manufacturers continue TO
push forward in the future as they have !,
done in the past five years. Richmond
is one Of the best-located cities in the :
United States with its present railroad
connections. {
Besides the Richmond and Danville
system. which comprises nearly $500
miles Of road, the owners OF this pro- G